Maithils

{{Main article|History of Mithila Region}}

{{See also|Videha|Vajjika League|Licchavis of Vaishali}}

Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by Indo-Aryan speaking peoples who established the Videha kingdom.

During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called Janakas.Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 141–143

The Videha Kingdom later became incorporated into the Vajjika League which was based in Vaishali.Raychaudhuri Hemchandra (1972), Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp. 85–86

The Licchavis of Vaishali were one of the constituent tribes of the Vajjika league and the territory of the Licchavis formed a single territorial unit along with Videha and Mallakas. The Licchavis remained in Vaishali up to the Gupta period with the fourth century A.D. Gupta Emperor, Samudragupta, being the son of a Licchavi princess from Vaishali.{{cite book |last1=Jha |first1=Hit Narayan |title=The Licchavis of Vaishali |date=1970 |publisher=Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series |pages=14–15 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.3394/page/14/mode/2up?q=mithila}}{{cite journal |last1=Trautmann |first1=Thomas |title=Licchavi-Dauhitra |journal=The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |date=1972 |volume=104 |issue=1 |pages=2–15 |doi=10.1017/S0035869X0012951X |jstor=25203320 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25203320}}

From the 11th century to the 20th century, Mithila was ruled by various indigenous dynasties. The first were the Karnatas of Mithila who ruled from 1097-1324 A.D. They were followed by the Oiniwar dynasty who ruled from 1325–1526 A.D.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&q=karnataka%2C+oinwars&pg=PA55 | title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective | isbn=9788175330344 | access-date=11 December 2016| last1=Jha | first1=Makhan | year=1997 | publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. }}

During the Mughal-era, Mithila was controlled by a dynasty of zamindars called the Raj Darbhanga who were tributaries to the Mughals.{{cite journal |last1=Henning Brown |first1=Carolyn |title=Raja and Rank in North Bihar |journal=Modern Asian Studies |date=1988 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=757–782 |doi=10.1017/S0026749X00015730 |jstor=312524 |s2cid=143084073 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/312524}} It was during this period that the capital of Mithila was moved to Darbhanga.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzPYdQo3vZgC&q=darbhanga+capital&pg=PA165 | title=Wetlands management in North Bihar | isbn=9788180697074 | access-date=14 December 2016| last1=Mandal | first1=R. B. | year=2010 | publisher=Concept Publishing Company }}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&q=darbhanga+capital+mithila&pg=PA56 | title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective | isbn=9788175330344 | access-date=14 December 2016| last1=Jha | first1=Makhan | year=1997 | publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. }}

• Karnat dynasty, 1097 CE–1324 CE{{cite journal |last1=Sinha |first1=CPN |title=Origin of the Karnatas of Mithila – A Fresh Appraisal |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |date=1969 |volume=31 |pages=66–72 |jstor=44138330 }}
• Oiniwar dynasty, 1325 CE–1526 CE{{cite book|author=Pankaj Jha|title=A Political History of Literature: Vidyapati and the Fifteenth Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8xl9DwAAQBAJ|date=20 November 2018|publisher=OUP India|isbn=978-0-19-909535-3}}
• Dronwara Dynasty, 14th–15th century CE{{Cite book |last=Rakesh |first=Ram Dayal |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Janakpur.html?id=O5NuAAAAMAAJ |title=Janakpur: The Sacred Jewel of Nepal |date=2005 |publisher=Safari Nepal |isbn=978-99933-59-96-8 |language=en}}
• Raj Darbhanga, 1557 CE −1947 CE{{cite book|author=Tahir Hussain Ansari|title=Mughal Administration and the Zamindars of Bihar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUueDwAAQBAJ|date=20 June 2019|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-00-065152-2|pages=200–223}}
• Malla dynasty, 1201 CE-1779 CE{{cite journal |last1=Brinkhaus |first1=Horst |title=The Descent of the Nepalese Malla Dynasty as Reflected by Local Chroniclers |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |date=1991 |volume=111 |issue=1 |pages=118–122 |doi=10.2307/603754 |jstor=603754 }}
• Senas of Makwanpur, 1518 CE –1762 CE{{cite journal |last1=Das |first1=Basudevlal |title=Maithili in Medieval Nepal : A Historical Apprisal |journal=Academic Voices |date=2013 |volume=3 |pages=1–3 |doi=10.3126/av.v3i1.9704 |doi-access=free }}

{{main|Mithila (region)|Mithila, India|Mithila, Nepal}}

Majority of Maithils normally reside north of the Ganges; based around Darbhanga and the rest of North Bihar.{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NIE1AAAAIAAJ&q=saharsa+darbhanga+mithila | title=Bihar district gazetteers, Volume 17 | access-date=10 December 2016 | pages=16| last1=(India) | first1=Bihar | last2=Choudhury | first2=Pranab Chandra Roy | year=1957 }}

Native Maithili speakers also reside in Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi and Mumbai.{{E16|mai}} There are almost 70 million Maithils in India.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Indian Mithila comprises Tirhut, Munger, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Kosi, and Purnia divisions of Bihar and Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand.

• Darbhanga in particular played an important role in the history of Mithila and is considered one of its "core centers". It was the center of Raj Darbhanga who ruled most of the region.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&q=raj+darbhanga+mithila&pg=PA62 | title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective | access-date=10 December 2016 | pages=62| isbn=9788175330344 | last1=Jha | first1=Makhan | year=1997 | publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. }}

• Madhubani also where Mithila painting originated from which is a major part of Maithili culture.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UvuJyvtsCjwC&q=madhubani+paintings | title=Madhubani paintings | year=2003 | publisher=Abhinav Publications | isbn=9788170171560 | access-date=10 December 2016}}

• Sitamarhi is claimed by many to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita with Sita Kund being a major pilgrimage site.

• Baliraajgadh, situated in present-day Madhubani district in Bihar is thought to be the capital of ancient Mithila Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsofbihar.com/khas-khabar/kaun-lega-mithila-key-baliraajgadh-ki-sudhi.html|title=नालंदा ने आनंदित किया लेकिन मिथिला के बलिराजगढ़ की कौन सुध लेगा ? – News of Bihar|date=16 July 2016|website=NewsOfBihar.com|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026162756/http://www.newsofbihar.com/khas-khabar/kaun-lega-mithila-key-baliraajgadh-ki-sudhi.html|archive-date=26 October 2017|url-status=dead}}
• Maithils played a major role in building the Baidyanath Temple which is an important pilgrimage site for them.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LIkd7opbWI0C&q=maithils+deoghar&pg=PA27|title=Sacred Complexes of Deoghar and Rajgir|first=Sachindra|last=Narayan|date=1 June 1983|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|via=Google Books}}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nKqF_AgDd4gC&q=mithila+india+state&pg=PA148 | title=Small States Syndrome in India | access-date=16 February 2017 | pages=146 | isbn=9788170226918 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217143622/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nKqF_AgDd4gC&pg=PA148&dq=mithila+india+state&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL0fDo2pXSAhVEKcAKHej6AicQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=mithila%20india%20state&f=false | archive-date=17 February 2017 | df=dmy-all | last1=Kumāra | first1=Braja Bihārī | year=1998 | publisher=Concept Publishing Company }}

File:Ram Baran Yadav 2008-08-26.jpg former President of Nepal from 2008-2015 and a native Maithili speaker]]

The adjoining districts of the eastern Terai form Nepalese Mithila.{{Cite journal|title=Supplemental Information 3: An excerpt from Data Downloads page, where users can download original datasets.|journal=PeerJ|date=13 August 2020|volume=8|pages=e9467|doi=10.7717/peerj.9467/supp-3|last1=Bolduc|first1=Benjamin|last2=Hodgkins|first2=Suzanne B.|last3=Varner|first3=Ruth K.|last4=Crill|first4=Patrick M.|last5=McCalley|first5=Carmody K.|last6=Chanton|first6=Jeffrey P.|last7=Tyson|first7=Gene W.|last8=Riley|first8=William J.|last9=Palace|first9=Michael|last10=Duhaime|first10=Melissa B.|last11=Hough|first11=Moira A.|last12=Saleska|first12=Scott R.|last13=Sullivan|first13=Matthew B.|last14=Rich|first14=Virginia I.|doi-access=free}} This area was part of the kingdom of Videha.Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143 The kingdom appears in the Ramayana. Many people claim Janakpur to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita but this is disputed as many consider Sitamarhi as her birthplace.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&q=free+maithil+state&pg=PA251 | title=Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom | isbn=9781136649561 | access-date=8 December 2016| last1=Gellner | first1=D. | last2=Pfaff-Czarnecka | first2=J. | last3=Whelpton | first3=J. | date=6 December 2012 | publisher=Routledge }}

There was a movement in the Madhesh region which is predominantly a Maithili community of Nepal for a separate province.{{cite book |author=Burkert, C. |chapter=Defining Maithil Identity |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&pg=PA245 |title=Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom: The Politics and Culture of Contemporary Nepal |year=2012 |editor1=Gellner, D. |editor2=Pfaff-Czarnecka, J. |editor3=Whelpton, J. |publisher=Routledge |location=London, New York |isbn=9781136649561 |pages=241–273 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820000356/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA245 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |df=dmy-all }} Province No. 2 was established under the 2015 Constitution, which transformed Nepal into a Federal Democratic Republic, with a total of 7 provinces. Province No. 2 (now Madhesh Province) has a Maithili speaking majority and consists of most of the Maithili speaking areas of Nepal. It has been demanded by some Mithila activists that Province No. 2 be named 'Mithila Province'.{{Cite web|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2018-05-02/samiti-vows-to-protest-for-mithila-province.html|title = Samiti vows to protest for Mithila Province}} Province no. 2 was given the name Madhesh Province on 17 January 2022.{{Cite web |title=Province 2 endorses Madhes as its name, Janakpurdham as provincial capital |url=https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-2/2022/01/17/province-2-endorses-madhes-as-its-name-janakpurdham-designated-as-provincial-capital |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}

File:Varṇa Ratnākara manuscript in the Library of Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal.jpg, the earliest prose work in the Maithili language and dated to the early 14th century{{Cite book |last=Jyotiśvara. |title=Varṇa-ratnākara of Jyotiriśvara of Kaviśekharācārya |date=1998 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=81-260-0439-8 |location=New Delhi |pages=ix |oclc=40268712}}]]

The common language of the Maithil people is Maithili, which is one of the recognised regional languages of India and the second national language of Nepal listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and the Interim Constitution of Nepal. The Tirhuta script, also known as the Mithilakshar script and Kaithi script was used as the original script of the language. However, during the 20th century most Maithili writers gradually adopted Devanagari script for Maithili.{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/us-canada-news/US-scholars-project-of-encoding-Tirhuta-script-into-digital-media/articleshow/8512071.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405002328/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-22/us-canada-news/29570702_1_maithili-eighth-schedule-bengali-script|url-status=live|archive-date=April 5, 2012|title=US scholar's project of encoding Tirhuta script into digital media|last1=Chaudhary |first1=Pranava |date=May 22, 2011|website=The Times of India|access-date=26 July 2013}} Some traditional pandits still use Tirhuta script for pātā (ceremonial letters related to important functions, such as marriage).

{{Main|Mithila culture}}

Men and women in Mithila are very religious and dress for festivals as well. The costumes of Mithila stem from the rich traditional culture of Mithila. Kurta and Dhoti with a Mithila Painting bordered Maroon coloured Gamchha which is the Symbol of Passion, Love, Bravery and Courage are common clothing items for men. Men wear a Gold ring on their nose which symbolizes prosperity, happiness and wealth inspired by Lord Vishnu. Also, wear a Balla on their wrist and Mithila Paag on their Head. In ancient times there was no colour option in Mithila, so the Maithil women wore white or yellow Saree with a red Border but now they have a lot of variety and colour options and wear Laal-Paara (the traditional red-boarded white or yellow Saree){{cite AV media |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqbPoGYxjS0 |title= Maithil women wore Red Boarded Yellow or White Saree during Jhijhiya Naach|access-date=27 March 2017}} on some special occasions, and also wear Shakha-Pola{{cite web|url=https://www.jhajistore.com/blogs/news/mithilas-bengal-connection-a-conversation-with-shalini-ji|title=Mithila as well as Bengal wearing शाखा पोला" www.jhajistore.com |access-date= 12 August 2019}} with a lanthi in their hand which is Mandatory to wear after marriage in Mithila. In Mithila culture, this represents new beginnings, passion and prosperity. Red also represents the Hindu goddess Durga, a symbol of new beginnings and feminine power. During Chhaith, the women of Mithila wear pure cotton dhoti without stitching which reflects the pure, traditional Culture of Mithila. Usually crafted from pure cotton for daily use and from pure silk for more glamorous occasions, traditional attire for the women of Mithila includes Jamdani, Banarisi, Bhagalpuri and many more.

Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year in Mithila. Chhath Puja, Durga Puja and Kali puja is celebrated as perhaps the most important of all the celebrations of Mithila.

File:Paag.jpg is the traditional headgear of the Maithil people]]

Traditionally Maithils lived in Badaghars called longhouses with big families of many generations, sometimes 40–50 people. All household members pool their labour force, contribute their income, share the expenditure and use one kitchen.{{cite web|author=Lam, L. M. |year=2009 |title=Park, hill migration and changes in household livelihood systems of Maithils in Central Nepal. |publisher=University of Adelaide |url=http://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/58136/1/02whole.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928051025/http://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/58136/1/02whole.pdf |archive-date=2011-09-28 }} In the courtyard of a Maithil family, there is a Dalaan for relaxation and gathering of the family members, relatives and close neighbours of the society in village. It is also used for cultural activities of the family and the neighborhood.

The religious practices of the Maithils is based on orthodox Hinduism as Mithila has historically been a principal seat of Hindu learning.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0lG85RD9YZoC&q=orthodox+hinduism+mithila&pg=PA525 | title=A History of Indian Logic: Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Schools | isbn=9788120805651 | access-date=8 December 2016| last1=Vidyabhusana | first1=Satis Chandra | year=1988 | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers }} Apart from main stream Hinduism, there are some local traditions of worshiping Baraham Baba and Gosaun Devata by them. In every village of the Mithila region, there is at least one common worship place Brahma Sthan also known as Dihawar Sthan attached to an old pipal tree, where Brahma Baba is worshipped by the Maithils. Brahma Baba also called as Graama Devata is believed to be the protector God of the village.{{Cite web |title=मिथिलाक लोक देवता डिहवार ,ब्रह्मबाबा |url=https://www.maithilmanch.in/dihbar-baba-brahmbaba/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Maithil Manch |language=en-US}} Maharani Sthan is the other common worship place, where Goddess Bhagawati is worshipped by the Maithils. Similarly at every courtyards of the houses of Maithils, there is Gosaunik Ghar where Kuldevata and Kuldevi of the family is worshipped.{{Cite book |last=Chaudhary |first=Radhakrishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JO4toCiJ2ecC&q=%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95+%E0%A4%98%E0%A4%B0 |title=Mithilak Itihas |publisher=Ram Vilas Sahu |isbn=978-93-80538-28-0 |pages=212 |language=hi}}

Maithils hold significant influence in the politics of both India and Nepal. They dominate the polity of Bihar, India's third most populous state, by virtue of their majority in 144 of the 243 constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.{{cn|date=October 2023}} Maithils are the largest ethnolinguistic group in the Nepalese Madhesh Province and the second largest ethnolinguistic group in Province No. 1.{{Cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/official-status-sought-maithili-province-2|title=Official status sought for Maithili in Province 2|date=26 December 2017}}

The following are notable residents (past and present) of Mithila region:

File:Udyanacharya Sanskrit Vidyalaya.jpg ]]

File:Statue of Maha Kavi Kokil Vidyapati.jpg]]

• Janaka, King of Mithila and Father in Law of King Rama.
• Sita, Princess of Mithila Kingdom and wife of King Rama.
• Udayanacharya, 10th/11th-century philosopher and logician of the Nyaya school.
• Vidyapati, 14th/15th century Maithili and Sanskrit poet-saint.
• Bhanudatta Misra, 15th/16th-century Sanskrit poet from Mithila.
• Harisimhadeva, King of Mithila during the Karnat dynasty from 1304 - 1324 CE.
• Gangadeva, King of Mithila during the Karnat dynasty from 1147-1187 CE.
• Narsimhadeva, King of Mithila during the Karnat dynasty from 1174-1227 CE.
• Ramasimhadeva, King of Mithila during the Karnat dynasty from 1227-1285 CE.
• Jyotirishwar Thakur, 14th-century poet, playwright and musician who composed the earliest prose work in the Maithili language, the Varna Ratnakara.
• Caṇḍeśvara Ṭhakkura, political theorist and general from the 14th century.
• Gaṅgeśa, 13th/14th century philosopher, logician and mathematician .
• Pakshadhara Mishra, 15th-century philosopher.
• Vāchaspati Misra, 9th/10th-century philosopher of the Advaita Vedanta tradition.
• Lakshmeshwar Singh, zamindar and principal landowner of Raj Darbhanga, 1860–1898.
• Rameshwar Singh, zamindar and principal landowner of Raj Darbhanga, 1898–1929.
• Śāriputra, 15th-century Indian Buddhist monk and the last abbot of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. Born in Simraungadh in modern-day East Champaran district.

• Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi, Indian Freedom fighter, political activist, social worker, poet and writer, born in Muzaffarpur{{cite web|last1=Ministry of Culture|first1=Government of India|title=Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi|url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?138|website=amritmahotsav.nic.in}}{{cite web|last1=Sajjad|first1=Mohammad|title=Maghfur Aijazi: A freedom-fighter and a builder of Indian democracy|url=http://twocircles.net/2013jan06/maghfur_aijazi_freedomfighter_and_builder_indian_democracy.html#.VPkHguHN45w|website=TwoCircles.net|date=6 January 2013|access-date=5 March 2015}}
• Bimalendra Nidhi, Member of Nepalese parliament, Vice president of ruling party Nepali Congress and former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal.{{Cite web|title=Nidhi appointed NC Vice-Prez, Khadka Gen Secy|url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2018/05/04/nidhi-appointed-nc-vice-prez-khadka-general-secy|access-date=2022-01-15|website=kathmandupost.com|language=English}}
• Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' was an Indian Hindi poet, essayist, patriot and academic.{{Cite web |url=http://www.anubhuti-hindi.org/gauravgram/dinker/index.htm |title=Ramdhari Singh Dinker - Hindi ke Chhayavadi Kavi |website=www.anubhuti-hindi.org |access-date=2020-04-26}}
• Bindheshwari Prasad Mandal was an Indian parliamentarian and social reformer who served as the chairman of the Second Backward Classes Commission (popularly known as the Mandal Commission).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rT2xWp_iTCYC|title=Nitish Kumar and the Rise of Bihar|date=2011-01-01|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780670084593|language=en}}
• C. K. Raut, formerly US-based computer scientist, author and political leader of Nepal.{{cite web |url=http://www.ekantipur.com/nepal/article/?id=222 |title=" मुख्य समाचार " :: नेपाल :: |publisher=Ekantipur.com |date=24 May 2015 |access-date=28 May 2015 |archive-date=4 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704035340/http://www.ekantipur.com/nepal/article/?id=222 |url-status=dead }}
• Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Indian politician, born in Supaul{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/bjp-s-shahnawaz-hussain-on-im-hit-list-113121000234_1.html|title=BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain on IM hit list|last=IANS|date=10 December 2013|access-date=26 October 2017|via=Business Standard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026111054/http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/bjp-s-shahnawaz-hussain-on-im-hit-list-113121000234_1.html|archive-date=26 October 2017|df=dmy-all|newspaper=Business Standard India}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/bjp-leader-shahnawaz-hussain-s-impersonator-arrested-76095|title=BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain's impersonator arrested|website=NDTV.com|access-date=26 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219094253/http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/bjp-leader-shahnawaz-hussain-s-impersonator-arrested-76095|archive-date=19 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/article542836.ece|title=PM's 'lack' of leadership has made UPA 'sinking ship': BJP|website=NewIndianExpress.com|access-date=26 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220836/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/article542836.ece|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}
• Bhagwat Jha Azad was the Chief Minister of Bihar and a member of Lok Sabha.{{cite web |url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/598.htm |title=8th Lok Sabha – Members Bioprofile – AZAD, SHRI BHAGWAT JHA |access-date=2011-08-06 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006151543/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/598.htm |archive-date=6 October 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
• Ram Baran Yadav, First president of Nepal
• Tarkishore Prasad, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, born in Saharsa district{{Cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/patna/i-want-self-reliant-bihar-sushil-modi-is-our-guardian-says-new-deputy-cm-tarkishore-prasad/story-JpUVa9XpDnKP1lO8GGI3pK.html|title=I want self-reliant Bihar; Sushil Modi is our guardian, says new deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad|date=19 November 2020}}
• Nagarjun, Renowned Maithili Poet
• Phanishwar Nath 'Renu', A prominent post-Premchand Hindi writer who deeply infused Maithili culture and ethos into his works.
• Acharya Ramlochan Saran, Hindi littérateur, grammarian and publisher

• History of Mithila Region
• Culture of Mithila Region
• Maithili language
• Mithila
• Maithil cuisine
• Mithila State Movement

Notes

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite web|author= Alan R. Beals & John Thayer Hitchcock|title=Field Guide to India|year=1960|location=India|publisher=National Academies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zi8rAAAAYAAJ&q=australoid+maithili&pg=PA9}}

{{Bihar}}

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Category:Social groups of Bihar

Category:Madhesi people

Category:Ethnic groups in India

Category:Hindu ethnic groups

Category:Ethnic groups in Nepal

Category:Ethnic groups divided by international borders

Category:Indo-Aryan peoples

Category:Madhesh Province